Step-Parent Adoptions

Adoption Attorney in Orange County Area- Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Orange, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, San Clemente

A step-parent adoption involves the legal process by which the stepparent of a child, with their spouse who is the child’s natural parent, formally adopts the child. After the adoption occurs, the adopting parent takes on all rights and responsibilities of the  natural parent.  One of the parents’ right and obligations to the child must likely be terminated prior to a stepparent adoption occurring. Thus the natural parent may be no longer obligated to pay child support and has no legal rights to custody or visitation with the child or say in decisions affecting the child.

A step-parent adoption is typically handled by the juvenile courts rather than the family law courts. The adoption process often must start with the termination of the other natural parent’s rights to the child, followed by the actual adoption by the step parent of the child. After all pertinent forms are submitted to the court, a hearing will be set by the judge.

The process of a step-parent adoption is complicated and can be time consuming. It is best to hire an attorney who has the experience to handle such a matter. The attorneys at Wilkinson & Finkbeiner have prepared and processed multiple step-parent adoptions. For more information and to speak with one of our attorneys, please call (949) 955-9155.